Magical evening immersed in Nayika Bhed with Saswati Sen, Madhvi Mudgal and Nandini Singh

From Left: Saswati Sen, Madhavi Mudgal, Nandini Singh and Nupur Laul

"Kathak Parisamvad. Nayika Bhed" a discussion on classification & interpretation of Nayikas (heroines) in Indian classical dance, was organized by the Vaasuki Natyashaala at the India Habitat Centre, moderated by Nupur Laul.

Saswati Sen (Kathak), Madhavi Mudgal (Odissi) and Nandini Singh (Kathak) took the audience through a magical journey of poetry and dance demonstrations describing the various Nayikas in Literature. Saswati Sen explained that there were as many as 350 Nayikas, but as the subject was too vast, they pared down this session to describing the Ashta Nayikas (8 heroines). The students in particular imbibed with riveted attention, this valuable knowledge from the stalwarts

Vegetarians - Experience the Meaty Experience with Faux Meat

My die-hard vegetarian Mom, who was a gourmet cook, used to say that जिमीकंद (jimikand) or yam is "meat for the vegetarians". 

Though for someone who had never tasted non-vegetarian food in her entire life, I can only presume she got this gyaan from non-vegetarians.













Popularity of foods made from plant-based sources that taste like meat are on the up rise with converted carnivores. Vegetarians too can savour the flavour, previously taboo for them. These foods not just attempt to emulate the taste of meats but also strive to pack in the protein content. Additionally, some manufacturers are creating these products sans GM foods (genetically modified foods), even though there are varying public views on acceptance of GM foods.

Read about plant-based burgers in The New York Times article

www.nytimes.com › 2019/10/22 › dining › veggie-burger-taste-test

Vogue UK includes Vegan Foods first in “6 Of The Biggest Wellness Trends You’ll Want To Try in 2020”, an article that focuses on the continuing wellness trends from the 2010s into 2020, with the new decade kicking “everything up a notch”. The 2010s “signalled the end of toxic ‘diet culture’ with a new focus on self-care, wellbeing and spirituality (all practiced with the climate crisis and sustainability in mind, too)”

www.vogue.co.uk › beauty › article › wellness-trends-2020

Artworks by Anu Jindal at India International Centre, New Delhi for creating awareness of Environmental degradation & Climate Change

Labyrinth - Earth Environment Climate Change - Exhibition of Artworks by Anu Jindal

Labyrinth:  Earth × Environment × Climate Change

Exhibition of Artworks by Anu Jindal

ART GALLERY, KAMALADEVI COMPLEX

INDIA INTERNATIONAL CENTRE

MAX MUELLER MARG, NEW DELHI

31 OCT TO 8 NOV 2019, 11 am - 7 pm

Inauguration on Wednesday 30^th Oct, 6.30 pm

Guest of Honour - Sunit Tandon

Director, India Habitat Centre

Anu Jindal’s artworks draw attention to the present and future of planet earth and its environment - the beautiful and the threatened. Humanity’s continued and increasing carbon footprint is causing concern to some, while others remain insulated. Planet earth’s bounty would appear to be boundless but humans insatiable consumption is proving otherwise. The ubiquitous plastic remains an integral part of our lives. Emissions of greenhouse gases pervade our atmosphere. Permafrost is thawing, oceans are rising, pushing biodiversity towards extinction. Is there a way out, or will we remain mesmerized in a maze. The artist questions “whither next?” through paintings, mixed media & installations.

Anu Jindal, Artist, Art Historian & Educationist, Ph.D. in Art History from National Museum Institute, New Delhi, did a one year stint at Doshisha University, Kyoto as a Japan Foundation fellow

Initial extensive work in etching prints explored various facets of humanity from embryonic “amobae” to evolution of humans in the “hominidae” series. Art workshops under Prof. Paul Lingren of San Diego University and Prof. Krishna Reddy of New York University stimulated her to make prints in Colour Intaglio technique, breaking boundaries by treating etching plates like sculptures. Having explored various media from printmaking, painting, sculpture and pottery, she has expanded into mixed media and installation art, exercising the need to engage in larger spaces

Jindal combines artistic practice with writing and teaching, each discipline enriching the other. Her Ph.D. thesis’s theme - Japanese suiboku-ga and the art of Zen monk-painter Sesshū Tōyō, steered her to the path of minimalism. Her scholarly work in Visual Art & Design, particularly of Asia, has been presented at International Conferences & published papers. She has taught for several decades primarily at the National Institute of Fashion Technology & School of Planning and Architecture, and delivered lectures on Art History & Appreciation at National Museum and National Gallery of Modern Art, New Delhi. As Research Professor for a year at International Research Centre for Japanese Studies, Kyoto, Japan she focused on a comparative study of Japanese Ukiyo-e with Indian Painting

 Her artworks have been part of several important exhibitions in India and abroad including the National Exhibitions at Lalit Kala Akademi and Festival of India in USA, the Berlin Biennial, and finds place in Art collections in India and abroad

 Jindal’s current creative expression is deeply rooted in the investigation and visual interpretation of nature and being, the interweaving of natural elements with urban life, of habitat and impact of climate change. The multiplicity of existence, the relationship of environment and psyche of humans, the giver and the taker, the profound and the facile.... visualized through mindscapes

www.anujindal.com    www.anujindal.blogspot.com  Email: purplestreakcentreforarts@gmail.com

Delhi's Election Office shone in the May 2019 Lok Sabha Elections

Dr. Ranbir Singh, IAS officer and currently Chief Electoral Officer of Delhi, who was at the helm of the Delhi chapter of the recently concluded Lok Sabha elections gave an information packed talk under the title "Elections in India: A Carnival of Democracy" on 17th August 2019

It was an eye opener to hear about the elaborate planning, immense effort and dedicated work that was put in to ensure inclusiveness of all from 18 year olds who were first time voters to nonagenarians, from transgenders to those who were wheel chair bound and facilitate a fair and smooth election process

An affable and communicative Dr. Ranbir Singh answered questions freely and interacted with the audience post the talk




Particularly helpful was the line-up of his very pleasant and eager to assist staff members, complete with forms and data-banks to assist audience members who had any clarifications/modifications in relation to their Election Identity Cards, or any other related queries.

Vultures circling around - The sorry state of a Super-Senior Citizen in Delhi

Indian politician, former External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj passed away on 6 August 2019 in New Delhi...

My first reaction - I had just met her a few days ago, she looked so good, so healthy, was smiling and interacting with all so normally...what happened...why this sudden demise?

Second reaction after reading the medical reasons - she had a massive cardiac arrest and passed away within the hour - thank God she did not have to suffer a lingering, extended, painful, traumatic, draining hospitalization. If one must go, even if before one's time, this is the best way to go

Third reaction - she had people who cared about her (genuinely) around her - her husband and daughter

There's a saying "Health is Wealth" - when one is young, strong and healthy one has no reason to ponder on this or bother at all to understand this. Its only when one is ill that one realizes the true meaning and import of this saying. Not just health, when life slaps you with problems, is when one remembers God, begging for mercy, though one may have inflicted multiple others with vicious impunity

My vivacious, party loving mother till few months back was up to her usual merry go round of socializing, partying,

shopping, insisting on driving herself, in-spite of repeated admonishments by her doctor and me, that she must shun driving, taking care of her medicines, including daily insulin injections independently, managing her house beautifully



Its Shraavan Purnamashi - the monsoon full moon
starts off the Hindu festival season - Mom celebrates all the festivals with such deep belief and gusto

On Janamashtmi (the day marking the birth of Lord Krishna) she decorates her mandir at home, adorns the Radha Krishna-ji with new clothes and ornaments, the Bal Gopala-ji (child Krishna idol) gets special attention from her. Freshly bathed, dressed and ornamented with his crown topped with a tiny mor-pankh (peacock feather), she seats him in his jhoola (swing) and ties a rope of strung marigolds to the jhoola. In the evening puja and aarti she will sing bhajans in praise of Radha Krishna and gently rock the Bal Gopal-ji's jhoola

And now she is in a diaper...
begging for food, dependent on whoever will do even the littlest for her
osteoporosis and a debilitating lower back pain have confined her to her bed
exorbitant hospital and doctors fees, doctors on home visits are outdated
suffering a stream of inefficient, grouchy, pilfering, so-called attendants, charging unreasonable fees - these women and their "Nursing Agencies" are making hay when the sun shines

And the vultures are circling around - though she has been fleeced of practically all of her property and money, whatever little is left - they are waiting to scavenge

Shraavan Purnamashi 15 August 2019

Madhur Bhandarkar entertains with his down to earth humour

Madhur can I take a selfie with you please? with so many others milling around with the same idea, its difficult, however Madhur takes my mobile in his own hand with the words - "Laa, main leta hun na" and presto the deed is done 😊

Famed film director, script writer and producer Madhur Bhandarkar interviewed by Amit Goel, Group Vice Chair, The Pioneer, turned out to be an entertaining session, with Madhur sharing his journey of success in the film industry, to his views on various societal issues and his support of Indian Prime Minister Modi

  Madhur Bhandarkar against poster of his film "Indu Sarkar"

From rags to riches....better still from a delivery boy for delivering videos of films, to celebrated deliverer of highly successful films....today one of the top directors of the Hindi Film Industry or Bollywood (shouldnt that be Mollywood? now that Bombay is back to its original pre-British rule name of Mumbai). Though highly successful, and surely he knows it, when an audience member praised his film he was quick to express gratitude.

Awarded the prestigious Padma Shri and as many as three National Film Awards, he remains unassuming and without airs and thereby immensely likable

Some snippets -

I wasn't  particularly good at studies, wanted to study at FTII but minimum requirement was graduation so that was out

Not many people know my first movie was "Trishakti", not "Chandni Bar". But "Trishakti" came and went without being noticed, I had to struggle a lot after that

I research my subjects intensely both by observation of actual situations and by reading a lot...I love reading

An example of his observation incorporated in his movie "Page 3" - at a funeral ceremony, its bizarre that while the puja is going on people are discussing what they are going to wear at tonight's wedding, or which party they will be going to👀

He gets multifarious reactions for his films - some feel he has been responsible for their business suffering, while others feel it gave them direction to improve

His outspokenness against the recent anti- Prime Minister Modi tirade by several film fraternity, because he says - I admire Modi, have seen the good work he has done in Gujarat, I think he is good for our country, besides this is selective and unfair criticism by these buddhijivis (pseudo intellectuals)

A lesser known talent - he ends with a small dose of mimicry 😃😜

Unpretentious, matter of fact, relaxed, smiling, with witty humour....bindaas... that's Madhur Bhandarkar for you